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As I started learning how to use digital tools for drawing, I wanted to create something meaningful that could help me in two ways - improving illustration skills and getting hands-on experience with digital design.
The illustrations might look quite simple to a trained artist, but for me, this process was a whole new experience that was never just about the drawing. It was about learning how to use the digital drawing techniques from scratch.
One piece of advice I’d like to share is this: “focus on the learning, not the outcome.” In the early stages, your work doesn’t need to be perfect. Perfection comes naturally with practice and consistency over time.
Learning phases:
I spent time analysing the key aspects of creating a children’s book like creating - developing a memorable story from a child’s point of view, choosing suitable characters and using clear, simple language.
Next, I designed a rough storyboard using quick pencil sketches. I love keeping my hand-drawing skills alive! I drafted about 10-12 pages, which helped me visualise how the story would flow with the illustrations.
Then came the big step- learning to use Affinity designer tools for character illustrations. This was a completely new approach for me. I already had knowledge of the toolbox and its purpose, but figuring out how to use them exactly match my hand-drawn sketches was the challenge. So, I explored everything I could- Google, YouTube tutorials and online guides. I was doing two things at once: applying what I was learning and aligning the book layout in Affinity Publisher.
Finalising the book:
After working out all the details- the book size, layout, story and illustrations- I was ready to export the first PDF version of my book. The first digital draft looked quite good, though I later made a few small edits. Once I was happy with the result, I exported the final version.
I was over the moon to finally see my work in print! I even printed the pages to hold in my hands, and it felt amazing! Even though I haven’t published it, seeing my own creation on a real textured paper filled me with joy. It felt like my first trial version, and it made me want to explore and create even more.